Sterilized toilet seat



April 20, 1948. L. H. bAvlDsoN 2,440,231

STERILIZED TOILET SEAT @y QM April 2o, 1942s. L, H, DAVIDSON 2,440,231

STERILIZED TOILET SEAT Filed Oct, 5l 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ixmmmlggiuumApril 20, 1948.

L. H. DAVIDSON 2,440,231

STERILIZED TOILET SEAT Filed Oct. 5, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr.20, 1948 STERILIZED TOILET SEAT Lloyd H. Davidson, Connersville, Ind.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Aveo Manufacturing Corporation, acorporation of Delaware Application October 5, 1944, Serial No. 557,283

The invention relates to sterilized toilet seats.

One object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism forshifting the toilet between a position in a sterilizing cabinet and itsusable position.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple mechanism operableby an electric motor for shifting the toilet seat between itssterilizing position in a cabinet and its usable position.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved automatic meansfor operating the shifting mechanism to return the seat to itssterilizing position from its lowered position after a predeterminedinterval in the event that the seat is not used.

Another object of the invention is to provide operating mechanism for asterilized toilet seat which includs a motor operable resilient linkconnection which permits completion of th'e seatlowering movement by theuser and which dispenses with dash-pots and shock absorbing deviceswhich are necessary when the seat is raised by a spring or weights.

Another object of the invention is to provide seat raising and loweringmechanism wh'ich is simple in construction and efficient in operation.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detaileddescription.

The invention consists in the several novel ifeatures hereinafter setforth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation, parts being shown in section, of thesterilizing cabinet and seat, the seat being positioned in the cabinet.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section illustrating the seat raising and loweringmechanism.

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a section illustrating the motor operable seat-shiftingmechanism in position for holding the seat lowered in a predeterminedposition over the bowlV and from which it is automatically raised aftera predetermined interval.

Figure 7 is a section illustrating the seat raising and loweringmechanism with the seat depressed by the user beyond the position intowhich `it is shifted by the motor operated mechanism.

Figure 8 is a diagram of the electrical circuits and connections forcontrolling the operation of the electric motor for raising and loweringthe seat and the Iactuation of the sterilizing lamp.

The invention is exemplified as applied to a toi- 11 Claims. (Cl. 4-233)let seat I2 which has a divided front portion and is adapted to passthrough a correspondingly shaped opening in the front plate I1 of asterilizing cabinet I4. Seat I2 is adapted to swing with a shaft I3which is journaled in brackets I6 which are supported on the upper rearportion of the bowl I5. A sterilizing lamp I8 is mounted in the cabinetso that its rays will be directed by a reflector I9 mounted in thecabinet I4 onto the upper face of the toilet seat I2, while the seat isvertically positioned in the cabinet. Shaft I3 pivotally supports theseat I2 for swinging movement from its Vertical position in thesterilizing cabinet I4 to a horizontal position for use. Shaft I3 isalso operable to swing the seat between its sterilizing position in thecabinet I4 and its lowered positions.

The invention provides mechanism which comprises a unidirectionalelectric motor 20, mechanism operable by the motor for oscillating shaftI3 to swing the seat from its position in the sterilizing cabinet to apredetermined lowered position above the toilet bowl i4 and from saidposition into the cabinet, a manual control switch for starting theoperation of the motor to lower the seat to said predetermined position,means permitting th'e seat to be lowered by the user from saidpredetermined position onto the toilet bowl, and automatic means forcontrolling the operation of the motor for returning the seat into thesterilizing cabinet from its lowered position either after use or in theevent it is not used within a predetermined period.

The power operable mechanism for oscillating shaft I3 to effect theraising and lowering movements of the seat between the sterilizingcabinet and the predetermined lowered position above the 1 toilet bowlcomprises an electric motor 20 which is mounted in the lower portion andat one side of the cabinet I4; reduction gearing contained in a box 2idriven by the shaft 29 of the motor and comprising an output shaft 22which is journaled in the box 2|; a disk 23 fixed to the output shaft 22of the reduction gearing; a crank or wrist pin 24 on the disk 23; acrank-arm 26 nxed to the shaft I3 and carrying the seat I2; and ayieldable or spring link-connection between a pin 25 on th'e distal endof arm 2B and the wrist-pin 24 on disk 23.

The link connection between disk 23 and crank arm 26 is adapted duringsuccessive half revolutions ln one direction of wrist pin 24 and disk 23to operate arm 26 to lower the seat I2 out of and raise it into thesterilizing cabinet I4. This makes it possible to raise and lower theseat by a uni-directional operating and controlled electric motor 20.

The speed reduction gearing comprises a worm 28 on the shaft 29 of themotor 20; a. worm gear 30 meshing with `worm 28; a shaft 3l Xed to wormgear 30; a worm 32 on shaft 3l; a worm gear 33 engaged by worm 32; ashaft 34 driven by worm 33 and provided with a worm 35 and a worm gear36 flxed to shaft 32.

The yielding or spring connection between wrist pin 24 and arm 26functions to rock arm 25 to shift the seat I2 by the electric motor 2liand the reduction gearing from its raised position in the sterilizingcabinet I4 to a predetermined lowered positionlslightly above the toiletbowl I as indicated by full lines in Fig. 2, and to raise the seat fromsaid predetermined lowered position Vby said motor and reduction gearingto its sterilizing position in the cabinet I4 and also to permit theseat to be lowered by the user from said predetermined position onto thebowl. This yieldable link connection is also utilized to controlelectric motorll to prevent its operation to raise the seat while it isoccupied.

The resilient link connection comprises a cylinder 4l, the lower end ofwhich is pivoted to crank pin 25, a rod 39 which is slidable in cylinderil and has its upper end pivoted to the wrist pin 24, and coil springs42 and 43 between the upper and lower ends of the cylinder,respectively, and a head 48 on the inner end of rod 39.

These springs shift the seat during the motor operated cycles of thedisk 23 between its sterilizing position in cabinet i4 and itspredetermined position somewhat above the toilet bowl l5, so that themotor will not shift the seat into its fully lowered position on thebowl, and the springs permit the seat to be lowered onto the bowl by theweight cf the occupant while the motor and disk 23 remain stationary.This additional movement of the seat permitted by the resilient linkconnection is utilized to automatically control the operation of themotor to cause it to'remain idle during the occupancy of the seat and toreturn the seat to its sterilizing position in the event it is notlowered from its intermediate position after a predetermined period.

The means for controlling the operation of the motor 20 for raising andlowering the seat comprises a manually operable starting switch, sucha's a push button 53, which is normally open and connected to close acircuit across and through motor 2U, a mercury cycling switch 45, andmeans for holding the motor-circuit closed between one half revolutioncycles of the disk 23. The mercury switch 45 is mounted on a lever 46which is fulcrumed at 47 on the casing 2l and provided at its lower endwith a stud 48 which is adapted to be pressed by a spring 48aintodiametrically opposite notches 49 in the rim 50 of disk 23 foropening the switch 45 and cutting oi current to the motor at the end ofone-half cycles of disk 23. The semi-circular rim-portions 5D betweenthe disk hold stud 48 to position rock lever 46 to hold the mercuryswitch closed. This exemplifies automatic means for controlling theoperations of motor 20 to produce successive one-half revolutionsorcycles of disk 23 for raising and lowering the seat after the motor has-been manually started by the switch 53. Switch 45 is connected to closeand open a circuit across conductors 66, 61 and through motor 20.

The operation of motor 20 to effect the raising movements of the seatinto the sterilizing cabinet is automatically controlled to insure therestoration of the seat .to the sterilizlng cabinet after each loweringmovement or use of the seat. This automatic control means is adapted toprevent the operation of motor 20 as long as the seat I2 is occupied andalso to cause the operation of the motor 20 to automatically raise theseat into the sterilizing cabinet to insure the sterilization of theseat between uses or lowering movements of the seat whether or not it isused. This means comprises a thermostatic switch which, through adelayed action, causes the motor 20 to start the liftingmovement of theseat from its intermediate position adjacent and above the bowl l5.'Ihis thermostatic switch is mechanically controlled by the movements ofarm 26 and electrically controlled to delay its action in closing acircuit for operating the motor 2D to raise the seat. The thermostaticswitch comprises a bi- -metallic member 55 connected to line conductor56, and adapted to engage a contact SQ for closing a circuit through theprimary of the transformer 68 for actuating the sterilizlng lamp I8 or acontact 59 for closing a circuit for starting the motor 2U, and aresistance coil 60 wound around member 55 for heating said member todelay its closing against contact 59. Resistance coil 50 is in serieswith the contact tl between switch member 55, the conductor 5l to whichthe primary of the transformer 53 is connected.

The means for mechanically shifting the switch-member 55 comprises a cam51 on arm 26 for holding, through a slidable pin 62, member 55 engagedwith contact 64 while the seat is in the sterilizing cabinet and a cam58, also on arm 26, which is adapted to hold pin 62 t0 keepswitch-member 55 disengaged from contact 59 and prevent the motor 28from being started while the seat is in its fully lowered or occupiedposition.

A switch i@ is included in the conductor 65 for controlling theoperation of the sterilizing lamp and seat shifting mechanism.

The operation will be as follows: When the seat l2 is in its raisedposition in the cabinet Ill, the thermostatic switch member 55 will beheld by cam 5l on arm 2S into engagement with the contact 64 and currentwill flow via conductor 55, switch member 55; contact 64, resistancecoil 55, and transformer 88 to line conductor 61, as shown in Fig. 3.The transformer will actuate the lamp i8 for sterilizing the seat in thecabinet. Resistance coil 5@ will heat the switch-member 55 to ex ittoward the contact G4. The motor circuits will be open at switch button53, at the cycling switch 55, and at contact 59 and the motor willremain idle.

When the seat is to be used, switch button 53 will be pressed to closethe following circuit for starting the motor 25, viz: conductor 66,switch button 53, motor 20, and line conductor 6l. The motor, throughthe reduction gearing, will rotate disk 20 in one direction and the rim50 of said disk will shift the cycling switch 45 to close the circuitfrom conductor 66 through mercury switch 45, motor 2U to line conductor66 to continue the operation of the motor for a one-half revolution ofdisk 50 and until the stud 48 enters one of the notches 49 in Idisk 23.During this operation of the motor the resilient link connection betweendisk 23 and arm 26 will lower the seat I2 to the predetermined positionabove the bowl I5, as illustrated by the upper dotted lines in Fig. 2,and by full lines in Fig. 6, and cam 51 will mechanically releaseswitch-member 55 to interrupt the circuit through transformer 68 andheating coil 60.

When the user occupies the seat, the latter will rock arm 26 to lowerthe seat to the position shown in Fig. 7, the resilient link connectionpermitting the seat to be lowered onto the bowl while disk 29 and motor20 `remain stationary. Simultaneously, cam 58 will shift pin 62 tomiechanically hold switch member 55 to prevent engagement of switchmember 55 and contact 59 so that while the seat remains occupied, themotor will not be operated to raise the seat. When the seat is vacatedthe spring 22 of the resilient connection between disk 23 and crank arm26 will shift the seat and arm 25 to its predetermined position abovethe bowl as illustrated in Fig. 6, Cam 58 will release vpin 62 to'permit the switch member 55, as a result of its cooling, to engagecontact 59. The switch member 55 when it has cooled sufficiently toengage contact 59, will close the circuit from line conductor 6l throughswitch member 55, contact 59, motor 20, to line conductor The motor willthen, by continued rotation in the same direction, operate disk 23 andarm 26 to swing the seat into its raised position into the cabinet i4,the cycling switch keeping said circuit closed .until the seat is in itsfully raised position in the cabinet i 4. During this operation cam 5lwill shift switch member 55 to close the circuit at contact forenergizing the primary of the transformer and the sterilizing lamp i8while the seat remains in its raised position in the cabinet i4.

If the seat is lowered to its intermediate position above the bowl andis not used, arm 26 and cam 58 will be in the position illustrated inFig. 6. Switch member 55, after a period during which it cools, willengage contact 59 and close the circuit for starting the motor to raisethe seat and disk 23 and mercury switch A5 will continue the circuitthrough the motor to complete the raising movement of the seat. Thisinsures the raising of the seat into the sterilizing cabinet after eachseat lowering operation even when it is lowered without being occupied.

ln the operation of the seat from the motor, the resilient linkconnection causes the shifting mechanism to operate' smoothly andwithout shock in starting and stopping.

The invention exempliiles motor operating mechanism for raising andlowering the toilet seat which is automatically controlled to effect theraising and lowering cycles of the seat, is simple in construction andelcient in operation. The invention also exemplifies improved means forcontrolling the operation of the motor and seat shifting mechanism toprevent operation of the seat while it is occupied, and forautomatically lifting the seat when it is vacated or the seat is loweredand not used within a predetermined period to prevent the seat frombeing left lowered where it will not be sterilized between uses. Theinvention also exemplifies mechanism for raising and lowering the seatwhich dispenses with the shock preventing or absorbing devicesheretofore used to prevent damage to the steriilzing lamp and othermechanism.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. 'Ihe combination with a toilet comprising a bowl, a seat-receivingsterilizing cabinet and a 6 seat movable from a raised sterilizingposition in the cabinet and to a lowered position over the bowl, of anelectric motor, mechanism operable by the motor for successivelylowering and raising the seat, and means for controlling the operation iof the motor for lowering the seat comprising a star-ting switch, acycling switch for controlling the operation of the motor in loweringand raising the seat, and automatic means comprising a thermostaticswitch for starting the motor to raise the seat after it has beenlowered.

2. The combination with a toilet comprising a bowl, a seat-receivingsterilizing cabinet and a. seat movable from a raised sterilizingposition in the cabinet and to a lowered position over the bowl, of anelectric motor, mechanism operable by the motor for successivelylowering and raising the seat, and means for controlling the operationof the motor for lowering the seat comprising a starting switch, acycling switch for controlling the operation of the motor in loweringand raising the Seat, and automatic means comprising a thermostaticswitch for starting the motor to raise the seat after it has beenlowered, and mechanical means for controlling the thermostatic switchwhen the seat is raised.

3. The combination with a toilet comprising a bowl, a seat-receivingsterilizing cabinet and a seat movable from a raised sterilizingposition in the cabinet and to a lowered position over the bowl, of anelectric motor, mechanism operable by the motor for successivelylowering to a predetermined position above the bowl and raising theseat, means permitting the seat to be additionally lowered by occupancy,means for controlling the operation of the motor for lowering the seat,and automatic means, comprising a thermostatic switch for starting themotor to raise the seat after lapse of an interval after it has beenlowered to said predetermined position, and mechanical means forcontrolling the switch while the seat is raised and in its unoccupiedposition.

d. The combination with a toilet comprising a bowl, a seatwreceivingcabinet, a sterilizing lamp in the caibinet and a seat movable between araised sterilizing position in the cabinet and a lowered position overthe bowl, of an electric motor, mechanism operable by the motor forsuccessively lowering the seat to a predetermined position above thebowl and raising the seat into the cabinet,l

means for controlling the operation of the motor for lowering the seat,automatic means for'starting the motor to raise the seat after lapse ofan interval after it has been lowered to said predetermined position,comprising a thermostatic switch and mechanical means controlled by saidmechanism, and means controlled by said thermostatic switch forcontrolling the operation of the sterilizing lamp in the cabinet.

5. The combination with a toilet comprising a bowl, a seat-receivingcabinet, a sterilizing lamp -in the cabinet and a seat movable between araised sterilizing position in the cabinet and a lowered position overthe bowl, of an electric motor, mechanism operable by the motor forsuccessively lowering the seat to a predetermined position above thebowl and raising the seat into the cabinet, means for controlling theoperation of the motor for lowering the seat, automatic means forstarting the motor to raise the seat after lapse of an interval after ithas been lowered to said predetermined position, comprising athermostatic switch, and means controlled by said switch for controllingthe operation of the sterilizing lamp in the cabinet.

6. The combination with a toilet comprising a bowl, a seat-receivingcabinet, a sterilizing lamp in the cabinet and a seat movable between araised sterilizing position in the cabinet and a lowered position overthe bowl, of an electric motor, mechanism operable by the motor forsuccessively lowering the seat to a predetermined position above thebowl and raising the seat into the cabinet, means permitting the seat tobe additionally lowered by occupancy, means for controlling theoperation of the motor for lowering the seat, automatic means forstarting the motor to raise the seat after lapse of an interval after ithas been lowered to said predetermined position, comprising athermostatic switch, and means controlled by said switch for controllingthe operation of the sterilizing lamp in the cabinet, and means forpreventing operation of the motor when the seat is additionally loweredby occupancy.

7. The combination with a toilet seat comprising, a bowl, aseat-receiving sterilizing cabinet, a seat provided with a pivotallysupported shaft for swinging movement from a raised sterilizing positionin the cabinet to a lowered position over the bowl, of a uni-directionalcrank, an arm fixed- 1y secured to the shaft for the seat, a directlinkconnection extending directly between the crank and the arm, saidlink-connection including slidably connected telescopic memberspivotally connected to the crank and arm, respectively, spring meansbetween said members, and power means for imparting pivotal movement tothe crank for raising and lowering the seat.

8. 'Ihe combination with a toilet seat comprising. a seat-receivingsterilizing cabinet, a seat provided with a pivotally supported shaftfor swinging movement from a raised sterilizing position in the cabinetto a lowered position over the bowl, of a uni-directional crank, an armxedly secured to the shaft for the seat and a direct link-connectionextending directly between the crank and the arm, said link-connectionincluding slidably connected telescopic members, pivotally connected tothe crank and arm, respectively, spring-means within one of and betweensaid members,'and power-means for imparting pivotal movement to thecrank for raising and lowering the seat;

9. The combination with a toilet seat comprising, a, bowl, aseat-receiving sterilizing cabinet, a seat having alxed thereto apivotally supported shaft for swinging ,the seat from a raisedsterilizing position in the cabinet to a lowered position over the bowl,of power operated means, including an electric motor and a crank forshifting the shaft to swing the seat between the cabinet and itspartially lowered position, an arm xedly secured to the shaft, a directlink-connection between the crank and the arm, and means for con- 8trolling the operation of the motor, including a switch, and a camrotatable with said shaft for releasing the switch when the seat is in apartially lowered position and for opening the switch when the seat isin its fully lowered position.

10. The combination with a toilet seat comprising, a bowl, aseat-receiving sterilizing cabinet, a seat having afiixed thereto apivotally supported shaft for swinging the seat from a raisedsterilizing position in the cabinet to a lowered position over the bowl,of power operated means,

including an electric motor and a crank for shifti ing the shaft toswing the seat between th cabinet and its partially lowered position, anarm iixedly secured ,to the shaft, a direct link-connection between thecrank and the arm, and means for controlling the operation of the motor,including a switch, a cam rotatable with said shaft for engaging theswitch when the seat is y raised, and a cam rotatable with said shaftfor releasing the switch to close when the seat is in a partiallylowered position and for opening the switch when the seat is in itsfully lowered position.

1l. The combination with a toilet seat comprising, a bowl, aseat-receiving cabinet including a sterilizing element, a seat havingafxed thereto a pivotally supported shaft for swinging the seat from araised sterilizing position in the cabinet to a lowered position overthe bowl, of power operated means, including an electric motor and a,crank for shifting the shaft to swing the seat between its raised andpartially lowered positions, an arm fixedly secured to the shaft, .adirect linkconnection between the crank and the arm, and means forcontrolling the operation Vof the motor, including a thermostaticswitch, a cam rotatable with said shaft for engaging the switch when theseat is raised, and a cam rotatable with said shaft for releasing theswitch to close when the seat is in a partially lowered position and foropening the switch when the seat is in its fully lowered position, theswitch being adapted to close a circuit for said element when the seatis raised.

LLOYD H. DAVIDSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,367,931 Varnum Feb. 8, 19211,635,758 Lemon July 12, 1927 1,755,788 Morse Apr. 22, 1930 1,874,576Morris Aug. 30, 1932 2,281,265 Campbell Apr. 28, 1942 2,300,936 KrenzerNov. 3, 1942

